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<p class="MsoNormal">Jessica, should we include the Zoom link for the listening sessions in our emails to the RTD directors?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Jo Elizabeth Pinto<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Please visit my author Website:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://www.brightsideauthor.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://www.brightsideauthor.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jessica Beecham via Colorado-Talk<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, September 15, 2024 3:04 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk@nfbnet.org><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Jessica Beecham <jbbeecham@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Colorado-Talk] RTD Access on Demand Changes Listening Meetings and Call to Action<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello Everyone!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Many of you have seen emails recently on Colorado Talk concerning the peer review report that RTD had commissioned to inform changes to their Access-A-Ride and Access on Demand program. While RTD has not yet proposed changes or indicated
that they plan to adopt the proposed changes, it is evident that they are working toward reform of the Access On Demand and Access-A Ride Program.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Because both Access-A-Ride and Access On Demand are important services to our members, the National Federation of the Blind wants to be proactive in communicating to RTD that it is imperative that we be at the table where decisions about
changes to the service are being discussed. We want to make sure that any changes that are made preserve the features of the service that many of us have come to count on to get from place to place in our day to day lives. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We are asking everyone served by RTD to contact their RTD Board Representatives and express that the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado needs to be at the table as any changes to the current Access-A Ride or Access on Demand
programs are considered. If you have a personal story about how the Access On demand program has positively impacted your life or allowed you greater independence and freedom or a story about the ways in which the traditional access-a-ride model has not worked
for you please share that as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Example Email<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear RTD Director <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">It has recently come to our attention that the RTD board of directors is considering changes to the Access-A-Ride and Access on Demand programs. These programs are vital to the ability of blind Coloradoans in the RTD to conduct activities
of daily life such as work, shopping, banking, going to the pharmacy, and enjoying equitable access to our beautiful region. As the largest organization of blind people in the state of Colorado, we ask that the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
have a key seat at the table when any changes to these services are being discussed. We want to make sure that these programs remain viable tools for blind people who are not able to use fixed route transit and that any changes made maintain or enhance the
ability of blind people to use these services to live the lives we want. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Share your personal story here.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to working with you as any proposed changes are thoughtfully and thoroughly considered.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You can find the email address and phone number for your RTD director by utilizing the address search feature at the following link:
<a href="https://www.rtd-denver.com/about-rtd/board-of-directors" target="_blank">
www.rtd-denver.com/about-rtd/board-of-directors</a>. If you send the information via email, feel free to address the correspondence to your director but copy the other directors as well.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">LISTENING SESSIONS\\<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The peer report presented to the RTD Board will likely serve as a framework for discussion regarding potential changes to the Access-A-Ride and Access On Demand Service. In order to be proactive, we would like to invite individuals in the
Regional Transit District to join us for one of three listening sessions where we will discuss the proposed changes and decide what changes we could potentially live with and which changes might dilute the service in such a way that it would not be useful
for us. These calls are simply to guide our leadership as we negotiate inevitable changes that will need to be made in order to make the service more sustainable. While most folks would like to keep the Access on Demand service just as it is, we will likely
have to concede some things, and it will be in our best interest to have a plan for the things that would preserve Access on Demand as a service that truly helps us live the lives we want.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Please feel free to invite others who would be impacted by these service changes. The listening sessions will be held this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 6:30PM to 7:30PM so that we can have some preliminary thoughts in place before
the RTD board meeting on the 24th where service changes will be discussed in a more in depth manner.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Below is the link for each of the Zoom Sessions<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Topic: Access on Demand listning Session<br>
Time: Sep 16, 2024 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)<br>
Every day, until Sep 18, 2024, 3 occurrence(s)<br>
Changed occurrence(s):<br>
Sep 16, 2024 06:30 PM (updated)<br>
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.<br>
Daily: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUkf-ysrj4sGt2K-GLAkh-L9IzqMH1aKUPA/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGppzMvHtSQthmORpwcHYqgZ-jziCVdjbcPt1LCLwFYak7ab8tYI59XQdn7&meetingMasterEventId=nTmXueaAQkCNyHGaCClNbAb">HERE</a><br>
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Join Zoom Meeting<br>
<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81985405609?pwd=jcDA7D44CGz0VUfYalwpDnquomhHj7.1">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81985405609?pwd=jcDA7D44CGz0VUfYalwpDnquomhHj7.1</a><br>
<br>
Meeting ID: 819 8540 5609<br>
Passcode: 1111<br>
<br>
---<br>
<br>
One tap mobile<br>
+17193594580,,81985405609# US<br>
+12532158782,,81985405609# US (Tacoma)<br>
<br>
---<br>
<br>
Dial by your location<br>
• +1 719 359 4580 US<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for your quick attention to this very important issue!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best Wishes<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jess<o:p></o:p></p>
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